above

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*ud-s-?
2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂u-s-?
3. Proto-Germanic*uz-
4. Proto-West Germanic*uʀ-
5. Old Englishar-
6. Old Englishā-
7. Proto-West Germanic*bi-
8. Proto-Indo-European*upó
9. Proto-Germanic*ub
10. Proto-Germanic*ubanē
11. Proto-West Germanic*obanā
12. Proto-West Germanic*biobanā
13. Old Englishbufan
14. Old Englishabūfan
15. Middle Englishaboven
16. English todayabove

From Middle English above, aboven, abuven, from Old English ābufan, onbufan, from on (“on”) + bufan (“over”), (akin to Icelandic ofan (“from above”), Middle Dutch bōven, Old Frisian bova, Middle High German bobene) from bī (“by”) + ufan (“over”); also cognate with Danish oven, Dutch boven, German oben, Swedish ovan, Old Saxon oƀan, Old High German obana. The preposition, the adjective, and the noun derive from the adverb.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• first attested before 1150. Physically over; on top of; worn on top of, said of clothing.
• first attested before 1150 In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface.
• first attested before 1150 Farther north than.
• first attested around 1150–1350 Rising; appearing out of reach height-wise.
• first attested around 1150–1350 Higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; higher in measure, degree, volume, or pitch, etc. than; out of reach; not exposed to; not likely to be affected by; incapable of negative actions or thoughts.
• first attested around 1150–1350 Higher in rank, status, or position.
• first attested around 1150–1350 In addition to; besides.
• first attested around 1350–1470 Surpassing in number or quantity; more than.